Constituent Assembly and Making of the Constitution Archives

21. Which of the following statements regarding the Constituent Assembly o

Which of the following statements regarding the Constituent Assembly of India is/are correct?

The Assembly was elected indirectly by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.
The elections were held on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise.
The scheme of election was laid down by the Cabinet Delegation.
The distribution of seats was done on the basis of the Mountbatten Plan.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

1, 2 and 3

2 and 4

1 and 3 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2016

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Statement 1 is correct: The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected indirectly by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies based on proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The elections were NOT held on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise. The electorate for the provincial assemblies was limited.
Statement 3 is correct: The scheme for the composition and election of the Constituent Assembly was laid down by the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The distribution of seats was done on the basis of population as per the Cabinet Mission Plan, not the Mountbatten Plan. Seats were allocated to each province and princely state (or group of states) in proportion to their respective population, roughly one seat for every million people. The Mountbatten Plan dealt with the partition of India.

The Constituent Assembly’s composition was largely determined by indirect election via provincial legislatures and nomination by princely states, based on the framework provided by the Cabinet Mission Plan.

The Constituent Assembly consisted of representatives from both British Indian provinces and Princely States. 292 members were elected through Provincial Legislative Assemblies, 4 were representatives from Chief Commissioners’ Provinces, and not more than 93 seats were allocated to Princely States.

22. On 26th November, 1949, which of the following provisions of the Const

On 26th November, 1949, which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India came into effect?

Citizenship
Elections
Provisional Parliament
Fundamental Rights

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

2, 3 and 4

1, 2 and 3

1 and 3 only

1 and 2 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2016

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The Constitution of India was adopted on 26th November, 1949. On this date, certain provisions came into force immediately, while the bulk of the Constitution came into effect on 26th January, 1950 (celebrated as Republic Day). The provisions that came into effect on November 26, 1949, included those related to:
1. Citizenship (Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
2. Elections (Articles 324)
3. Provisional Parliament (Articles 379, 380, 388)
4. Temporary and transitional provisions (Articles 366, 367, 391, 392, 393)
Fundamental Rights (Articles 12-35) are part of the main body of the Constitution that came into force on 26th January, 1950.

While the Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, only specific provisions necessary for the immediate functioning of the state and transition came into effect on that date. The full commencement, including Fundamental Rights and DPSPs, was on January 26, 1950.

Article 394 of the Constitution explicitly lists the articles that came into force on 26th November 1949. These are Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 367, 379, 380, 388, 391, 392 and 393. The remaining provisions came into force on 26th January 1950.

23. Who among the following stated in the Constituent Assembly that on 26t

Who among the following stated in the Constituent Assembly that on 26th January, 1950, India was going to enter a life of contradictions?

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Jawaharlal Nehru

Mahatma Gandhi

S. P. Mukherjee

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2020

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Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, in his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, famously warned about India entering a life of contradictions on January 26, 1950.

He stated that while India would have political equality (one person, one vote, one value) in the political sphere, there would still be social and economic inequality, which needed to be addressed to avoid democracy becoming a facade.

24. Which of the following statements about Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, as

Which of the following statements about Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, as a member of the Constitution of India, are correct?

1. He favoured the role of the Supreme Court in taking important decisions related to the interpretation of the Constitution of India.
2. He felt that the Supreme Court had to draw the line between liberty and social control.
3. He believed in the dominance of the executive over the judiciary.
4. He favoured a dictatorial form of governance.

Select the correct answer using the code below.

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

3 and 4

1, 2 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2019

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Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar was a distinguished lawyer and a prominent member of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution. He strongly advocated for an independent and powerful judiciary, recognizing the crucial role of the Supreme Court in upholding the Constitution and protecting fundamental rights. Statement 1 is correct as he emphasized the Supreme Court’s role in interpreting the Constitution. Statement 2 is also correct; he understood that the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, would need to balance individual liberties with the requirements of social control and public interest. Statements 3 and 4 are incorrect; he was a champion of constitutional democracy and an independent judiciary, not executive dominance or dictatorial governance.

– Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar was a strong proponent of judicial independence and the Supreme Court’s role.
– He believed the judiciary was essential for constitutional interpretation and balancing rights with social needs.

Along with other legal luminaries like B. R. Ambedkar and B. N. Rau, Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar played a crucial role in shaping the judicial framework and fundamental rights provisions of the Indian Constitution.